Until he ran onto the field Sunday, Kenyatta Walker didn't fully realize how much he had missed playing. In his first regular-season game since Dec. 20 against Atlanta, Walker replaced starter Todd Steussie at the beginning of the second quarter.

Jon Gruden said Walker, who was inactive for the regular-season opener and sat the bench against Seattle and Oakland, deserved to play. The Bucs' 2001 first-round pick and three- year starter has grown increasingly frustrated with his role, which diminished greatly when the Bucs signed Steussie in the offseason.

"I guess it's a trust thing right now,'' Walker said. ``[Gruden and I are] both getting each other's trust back right now. I've been through a lot of adversity here. Right now, I've got to take it how I can get it. I'm definitely going to keep working hard. One of these games, I want to be the starter.''

Following the Bucs' third offensive series, which ended with QB Brad Johnson getting sacked, Walker was told he was going in. He started warming up on the sideline before joining his teammates for the fourth offensive series, which ended with Johnson's 51-yard touchdown pass to WR Michael Clayton. On their next series, the Bucs drove 62 yards for a 28-yard Martin Gramatica field goal. Steussie returned in the second half, but the plan was to get Walker in again until the Broncos offense sustained a lengthy drive at the end of the game.

``If this is how they want to do it, I'll take it,'' Walker said. ``It's better than the other games where I would just sit there and watch. I'm just going to keep fighting. All I want to do is make them make some decisions, give them something to think about and make them realize I am just as talented as when they drafted me.''

Challenging moments
For several minutes Sunday, the Bucs appeared to have a 13-10 lead over the Broncos. But upon further review, the officials took away six points. What was first ruled a Ronde Barber fumble return for a touchdown was taken away when Denver challenged. After looking at the replay, officials ruled Broncos WR Rod Smith's elbow hit down, causing the ball to pop loose. The Bucs lost out on another challenge on the opening play of the third quarter. Brian Kelly tipped and caught a pass intended for Denver WR Ashley Lelie for an apparent interception, but officials ruled Kelly had stepped out of bounds. Tampa Bay challenged and lost.

Injury updates
Frank Murphy sustained an Achilles’ heel injury on the opening kickoff and did not return. Gruden said during his postgame press conference that Murphy would be lost for the season.